Buenos Aires Underground Information
The city of Buenos Aires is currently the only city in Argentina with an underground system. It’s a mass transit subway system, known locally as Subte. The first section of the network was inaugurated on 1 December 1913. The project continued to expand over the following decades. After the Second World War, however, the expansion was halted. It was later resumed in the late 1990s. The Transport Corporation of Buenos Aires (CTBA) nationalised and centralised the network in the late 1930s. However, the CTBA was taken over by the General Administration of Transport of Buenos Aires (AGTBA) in 1952. The network was later owned by the Subterráneos de Buenos Aires Company (later SBASE) in 1963, when the administration was dissolved. The network is now privately owned and has been managed by Metrovias S.A. since 1994. The Buenos Aires Metro has an annual ridership of 252 million passengers as of 2013.
The network consists of six underground lines with a total length of 49.85 km.
Buenos Aires Underground Map
Map of Buenos Aires Underground showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Buenos Aires Underground map in PDF format.
Buenos Aires Subte map
The Buenos Aires Metro, also known as “Subte”, carries around 789,000 passengers per day. The fare was EUR 0.24 in 2009, but has since been raised to EUR 4.50. The metro operates on a fixed timetable, which means it does not run 24 hours a day.
Unfortunately, there is no air conditioning on the metro. However, passengers are allowed to walk between platforms. Despite advances in transport technology, the Buenos Aires Metro does not use driverless trains or have screen doors on platforms.
Trains move at an average speed of 80km/h, and the entire system is operated by Metrovías. For additional information, you can visit the Buenos Aires Metro official website or contact them at +54 4555 1616.
Buenos Aires Underground Lines
Currently, Buenos Aires is served by 6 metro lines. All 6 lines are marked with different colours. Some new lines are being planned.
- Line A – Line A, which is light blue in colour, started operation in 1913 and is the oldest line of the Buenos Aires Metro. It runs from Plaza de Mayo towards San Pedrito. The line is 10.7 km long and serves 16 stations. Line A is used by 216,000 people per day and is the first metro line to be opened in South America.
- Line B – Line B, which is red in colour, began operation in 1930 and is the only line to use a third rail current collector. Line B runs between Leandro N. Alem and Juan Manuel de Rosas. The line is 11.75 km long and serves 17 stations.
- Line C – Line C, which is blue in colour, started operating in 1934 and the metro runs between Retiro and Constitucion. It is 4.3 km long and serves 9 stations.
- Line D – Line D, which is green in colour, started operating in 1937 and the metro runs between Catedral and Congreso de Tucuman. It is 11 km long and has 16 stations.
- Line E – Line E, which is purple in colour, began operation in 1944 and the metro runs between Plaza de los Virreyes and Bolivar. Line E is 9.6 km long and serves 15 stations. The extension of this line is under construction. Most of the stations are in residential areas.
- Line H- Line H, which is yellow in colour, started operating in 2007 and the metro runs between Corrientes and Hospitals. The line is 5 km long and the metro serves 8 stations. The line has few stations and they are mainly intended to serve the locals.
- Line P – The pre-metro line was inaugurated in 1987. It is 7.4 km long and has 18 stations. The line runs between Intendente Saguier and Centro Civico Lugano/General Savio and carries almost 2300 passengers a day.
Accessing the Airport
The closest international airport to Buenos Aires is Ministro Pistarini International Airport, also known as Ezeiza International Airport. Unfortunately, there’s no direct metro connection to the airport. However, Metrobus Bus 8 runs from the airport to the nearest metro station, Plaza de Mayo. This bus can be found at the arrivals terminal B, after a short walk of about 90 metres. It’s important to note that you will need a Sube card to pay the fare, which costs about one US dollar. The journey from the airport to Plaza de Mayo takes approximately two hours. Other transport options include taxis, which cost around 600 Argentine pesos, and private cars from SilverStar Transport, which cost around US$170. Once you arrive at Plaza de Mayo, you can connect to trains on Line A of the Metro.
Schedule, Timetable, and Calendar
Each metro line in Buenos Aires operates within specific opening and closing hours, and the journey time between the first and last stations of each line varies:
- Line A runs between San Pedrito and Plaza de Mayo, with a total journey time of 26 minutes. It operates from 5:00 to 22:28 from Monday to Saturday, and from 8:00 to 22:08 on Sundays and public holidays.
- Line B connects J.M. Rosas and Alem in 27 minutes. It operates from 5:00 to 22:21 from Monday to Saturday and from 8:00 to 22:00 on Sundays and holidays.
- Line C, which connects Constitución and Retiro, offers a short journey of 13 minutes. This line operates from 5:00 to 22:45 from Monday to Saturday and from 8:00 to 22:21 on Sundays and holidays.
- Line D, from Congreso de Tucumán to Catedral, has a journey time of 26 minutes. It operates from 5:00 to 22:24 from Monday to Saturday and from 8:00 to 22:00 on Sundays and holidays.
- Line E, which connects Plaza de los Virreyes and Bolívar, has a journey time of 24 minutes. It operates from 5:00 to 22:27 from Monday to Saturday and from 8:00 to 22:03 on Sundays and holidays.
- Line H, which connects Hospitales and Las Heras, has a journey time of 18 minutes. This line operates from 5:00 to 23:21 from Monday to Saturday and from 8:00 to 22:48 on Sundays and holidays.
Prices, Cards, and Passes
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, fares are quoted in Argentine pesos (ARS). Among the various options available is the contactless Tarjetas Sin Contacto or Sube card. This card offers a combined fare for the Metro and the Premetro tram. An interesting feature is the graduated fare system. The more trips you make, the less you pay per trip, starting at ARS 7.50 for the first 20 trips and dropping to ARS 4.50 per trip after 41 trips. Each new month, the price reverts to the original ARS 7.50 per ride. Please note that children under the age of four do not qualify for this discount.
A different fare applies only to the Premetro tram, which costs ARS 2.50 per trip.
In addition to the cards, there are various passes available at the Customer Service Offices. These are located at Independencia, Federico, 9 de Julio and Avenida de Mayo stations and are open weekdays from 8am to 6pm. Each pass is aimed at a specific group, including students, people with disabilities, pensioners and the unemployed.
For example, the Boleto Estudiantil is exclusively for Argentine students at public institutions and offers up to 50 trips per month. Pase para Discapacitados is for people with disabilities and requires a certificate. Pensioners and retired people have a special pass called Pase a Jubilados y Pensionados, which has specific hours of use. There’s also the Pase Escolar Primario for public primary school children, the Abono Maestro for teachers, the Abono Social for unemployed or poor people and the Abono Estudiantil for secondary school students.
As with all public transport systems, there are certain rules to be observed. For example, bicycles are not allowed and some seats are reserved for pregnant women, people with disabilities and the elderly. Be prepared to give up your seat if necessary. You may also be asked to show your ticket or Sube card for random checks. Passengers with disabilities are allowed to bring a guide dog, but the dog must be muzzled and not disturb other passengers. All other animals are not permitted.
If you have any complaints, you can lodge them in the Libro de Quejas (Book of Complaints) at any station ticket office.
Future Metro expansion plans include the extension of lines E and H, and the introduction of three new lines – F, G and I.
For those planning to travel, some tips include taking the Metrobus 8 from the airport to Plaza de Mayo station with minimal luggage. A mobile app with a map of the station can be helpful, and there are also maps on the platforms. It’s important to read the platform signs to make sure you don’t get on the wrong train, as there are no refunds. Also, light clothing is recommended due to the high temperatures from November to February.